Inspired by MC Slim JB's ""27 Really Terrible Boston Restaurant Names" from last week's Weekly Food News Round Up, we thought that DC should have its own.
So here it is, a list of oddly/funnily/unfortunately names restaurants in the DC area. If you're on the list, take no offense, all in good fun.
- The Sacrificial Lamb (DC) - I like to picture my dinner bleating as it get its throat cut.
- Sauciety (National Harbor) - Apparently this is part of a chain of Starwood hotel restaurants. They focus on sauces. *Groan*
- Tono Sushi (DC) - You know how much sushi I'm going to eat tonight? A ton-o.
- Co Co. Sala (DC) - It has an extra period. Probably why it needs all that chocolate.
- Fyve (Pentagon City)- What's wrong with Five?
- Pusser's Caribbean Grill (Annapolis) - Ick. Their website pusserusa.com makes it worse.
- Savour and Sutra (DC) - Technically it's two places with two names which are okay. But together, they freak me out.
- Pho Kim (Alexandria) - And all his friends.
- Sou'Wester (DC) - "Hey, we're in SW"
- Meat in a Box (Falls Church) - These guys get it. I love them.
- Cheep Cheep Chicken (Annapolis) - The sound a little chick makes or the value of the meat. Which is worse?
- Mr. Yogato (DC) - Domo arigato
- Pete's Apizza (DC)- For people who aren't from around here, they always think I'm trying to bring back the Little Ceasar's tagline. Which make me look like a loser and I hate that.
- Corduroy (DC) - Not something I want in my mouth.
- Moby Dick House of Kabob (Metro) - Another one you forget about until you discuss lunch plans with out-of-towners.
- Againn (DC) - They used the "n," again.
- Bilbo Baggins (Alexandria)- A global wine cafe and restaurant, named after a hairy-footed Hobbit.
- Prego Again (DC) - A tweet from a reader makes me realize just how funny this really is. You slut.
- Steam Cafe (DC) - You know what's not appetizing at all? Steam.
- The Fractured Prune (Metro) - Bad name, good donuts.
- Oohhs and Aahhs (DC) - No one knows how to spell it, and no one likes saying it.
- Thaitanic and Thaiphoon (DC and Alexandria)- The ability to make terrible disasters seem cute by blending them with national identify = delicious.
- New Big Wong (DC) - Caught my boyfriend taking cell phone pics of this one. We all should really.
Please feel free to add your own!
Be sure to follow @BYTEatDrinkfor running updates on food and beverage news in the area. Send tips, suggestions and listings to eatdrink@brightestyoungthings.com
God loves a cheerful giver.
Art & Soul
(shudder)
I remember the first time I saw MEAT IN A BOX. I was drunk off my ass and thought It was hallucination. Alas it is not and is actually decent.
Yeah, Moby Dick House of Kabob seemed really odd to me when I moved here a few years ago. It was even odder that the locals didn't think that was an odd name. I finally got to the bottom of this: Apparently when they bought the first location the building said "Moby Dick House of Seafood" and they didn't have enough money to replace the whole sign so they just changed the last "seafood" to "Kabob"
- Call me Ishmael
A friend just brought up that his thinks the "Ray's" restaurants are a little out of control. I'd agree. Ray's the Steaks, Ray's the Classics, Ray's Hellburger
I'm no fan of the name TenPenh
DIK...That's Dupont Italian Kitchen. I pronounce it "Dick." My brother pronounces it "Dyke."
Cluck-U gets a nod via Twitter
Pho Real out in Burtonsville, MD
Pho Real is the absolute truth
It's not quite DC, but Volt in Fredricksburg, MD. Volt like electricity? (re)Volt for rebellious cooking? or what I always think (re)Volt(ingly) average.
Or Volt, like Voltaggio. The name of the chef. Although will say on Restaurant Wars on Top Chef, the Voltaggio bros names their place reVolt and it was a BAD idea.
Does anyone else remember Takee Outee??
I shudder every time I see Nooshi.
It's a shame, because the Sacrificial Lamb is delicious. But I shudder every time I look at the sign.
In Del Ray, there is Pho King